Food. Lifestyle. Ramblings

Parenting

Hey my WP fam! I’ve been so held up today, with just so many bat-shit crazy stuffs. I, had to complete drafting one of those erratically stupid legal documents. I,also had to finish atleast a page on a book, I’m working on. I, had to keep a track on my order that came in today & last but not the least, I, also had a tantrum filled kiddo to deal with today.

Apparently, the Dubliner Cheese got over & he cried his guts off when I bought him, “Colby”. He kept telling, ” This, disgusting cheese. Arham doesn’t want. I want Dubliner”

I, seriously could’ve whipped him right then & there into a mousse, but then I kept my calm & said, ” How would you like, a batch of French fries & ketchup?”

To which he, willingly obliged. And off, we went to grab a batch of fries.🍟🍟🍔🍟🍟

That put the brakes on his whining, but I felt guilty for advocating bad choices. You know, I kinda felt like, I’m being selfish. I mean, I must’ve done something else.. But what??

*smacks herself in the head with Gordon Ramsey’s turner & skims off the excess guilt with a skimmer*

Mommy’s get that much of Liberty,I’m sure. We could always alternate fries & twinkies with garden salads & oat porridges, if we’ve got a whiny kid* Right?? Please tell me a yes.

👍🏻 or 👎🏻?

I mean, how else do you calm them down, when you have so much to do?

Btw, with all the drama happening, I missed my masterclass with Chef Prabir at Sanctum. 😢😢

I’m calling it a day now!! Hopefully, tomorrow isn’t as hectic as today.

I’ve been pondering about drafting this post from the past few days. I mean, I could be all knavish and go on to say, “Oh! Jolly Jelly Beans. Motherhood is the most satisfying thing ever. I’ve just borne a best friend for life. ”

But, no, I wouldn’t indulge in such pettifoggery and mislead you from the things that will change. Well, Forever!!

Here are my 5 most favourite/ unfavourable things:

1. Sleep, will be an ex who you remember with a sad smile:

You really shouldn’t have treated it, with so much ingratitude. How, you used to decide, when you’d wanna sleep or how you would just hit the pillow & call it a day. Remember, those hibernating naps, where you would sleep for 12-13 hours straight? Good ole days😢😢 Now, your baby decides when you sleep or rather, when he wants to sleep. If you thought, you were a free spirit not bound by rules. Then, you oughta see your baby’s feeding whims. He loves surprising Mommy with 4 a.m. cries. Darling! Welcome to the real “Hunger Games “

2. You will never be blessed with peaceful, romantic & carefree dates :

D’oh!! Who said you would ever have a romantic & a carefree date? Let’s say, you filch a few hours from your baby time & hire a babysitter or just plop your baby at the Grandma’s toasty place. You & your partner, have reservations at the restaurant of your dreams. You order your courses & just when you start feeling the vibe. The phone rings!! “Honey! The baby misses you.” & you hear that wail, like a death knell 😢😢 If, it isn’t during the meal, then it surely will be at the time, you guys decide to have a long, breezy drive.

And, if your baby comes along with you.. Then, oh well!! It isn’t a date, is it? Muhahhhahaha 😈😈😒😒

Gosh! Even those names make me cringe. If, having a baby & his spittle on your shoulder wasn’t enough, now, you need to fashion revamp yourself. Big, floral/block, multi zippered bags filled with diapers, bottom butters, binkys, feed,etc.. is the way of life. Girl!! Your bag, is your identity. It doubles up as, a huge invisible placard that says, ” I’m a new mommy. Don’t mess with me. I’m the human version of Godzilla. I’m grumpy, irritated & exhausted. I need a Gucci more than ever now, but all I get is a diaper bag.”

I feel you girl. Just another 5 years & then you can get your Gucci. Amen!

Well, that’s a thingamaflip of history. It’s been 3 years since I had one. Your child, will miraculously need you the most, when you need some luxury time. When you decide, to pamper yourself with some much needed soak, your baby doesn’t think you deserve that. 10 minute showers are the trend these days. Once your baby is a toddler, rest assured that he’s gonna follow you & ask you, “What you doing inside?” atleast a 100 times in 10 minutes.

5. Your shopping hauls will be filled with the cute A/W collection booties, diapers, toys and all that :

Remember, the last time you shopped selfishly just for yourself? Not anymore. It’s shopping haul for the baby too! More shopping goals & more financial oopsies now!

“YOU spent $100 on stupid designer shoes for the baby, which he clearly won’t wear for more than 6 months?”, shouts the husband.

Well, mommy! You’re learning. You’ll get the hang of it. Slowly, you’ll make wise decisions like spending $100 on toys? He won’t outgrow that in 6 months, will he?

Yes! You heard me right! Your playlist will have annoying voices, blaring about “little boy blue, Jack Horner & London Bridge” on the damn loop. Then, your phones will start using those free MB’s to fill it with “Counting, Colouring & ABC” apps. This starts with a necessity to keep your toddler shut at the doctors, then you decide to keep him shut at the restaurant, mall, salon & every other place you take him along.

Well, we all are ninjas on alert. We do need our inventories to be well stocked.

Things will eventually get better and life won’t get back to normal pre baby days, but you’ll learn the art of making this a normalcy. Super proud of all the mommies.

Welcome to motherhood mommy!! Have a great time here.

P.S: All images have been sourced from http://www.google.com & are the sole right of the owner. These are not mine to credit. They have been used only for reference purposes.

Im pretty flummoxed with the things my toddler tells me. Sometimes,I’m gaping in horror & sometimes I’m just playing “Mommy”,acting like I understand every bit of useless & vital information he gives me. The “Terrible Two’s”,are terrible for the reason,that they terribly drain away every ounce,gram,millilitre,etc of your energy. It’s just been a few hours since you’re up,and you can already feel the weight of the day in your bones.

Those kids are everywhere. They are like little monsters,elves,gnomes, leprechauns,goblins.. You get it! They just are everywhere. Let me tell you a secret,they also possess the power of ” TeleKinesis” and “TelePortation”. I kid you not,dear worried parent. 😢 We’re in this together.

Just a split second ago,you caught your LO trying to tip the Venetian flower vase& when you save that vase by fluke & you hear shattering sounds *kaboom* from your bedroom. The poor klutzy you rushes in,only to find your LO smiling,standing a good distance away from the crime scene.

Pray,tell me dear parent… Just how did your toddler manage to find himself in the bedroom in split seconds and also shatter your favourite hand held “VanityMirror”,which was btw way beyond his reach?? I really ought to tell you,it’s telekinesis and not you clumsily forgetting that mirror on the baby chair. 😐😐 You can’t always be the klutzomaniac,please.😒

I staunchly believe so. Period.

So,there are things our toddlery LO’s try to tell us every other day. They can talk,yes they do.. But for complex sentences,they still rely on Sign languages & broken sentences. Here are the few,yet common things our toddlers tell us:

He starts crying uncontrollably for no reason or throws tantrums:

My LO usually behaves all perked, irritated,tantrum-y, crybaby-ish,uncontrollable,etc when he is super tired,groggy or confused. That’s the way he signals me these 3 emotions. He still can’t define them,nor can he understand what they mean. Ergo, a bawling episode alerts me. I,end up pacifying him & giving him the comfort that, I understand him.(psssst.. Sometimes,I just feel like running away,but then I think of all the mess I’d have to face,when I get back & refrain that thought)

He hugs you &seems disturbed or tells you to pick him up,cuddles& kisses you:

Whenever my sister or brother try to show even as much as an iota of authority over me,the LO starts his PDA with me. By authority I mean,” I love you Sis.” Or ” I love Emmy” Or ” Emmy lets go out” Or ” Emmy do you love me?”. Those words & the LO is breaking all boundaries & borders,just to come near me & claim me as his. This usually is a sign of a toddler,trying to establish his authority over things he loves. He craves your attention& loves it when you shower him with it. I,for one.. Love these episodes & leave no stone unturned to have him give me kissykoos.

He sticks to the walls,or goes into a room,makes himself invisible or tells you to look away,when he’s pooping:

Be supercharged,your kid has progressed to the next level of independence. He’s ready to be potty trained. This is your kid’s way of letting you know,that he fairly understands the need for privacy& also good etiquettes.That’s a big word eh? But he knows it already. What you should do is encourage your child & teach him a few more things about privacy&manners,like dressing in private or not burping& farting in front of people.

Doesn’t look into your eyes,bows his head down & appears embarrassed:

When you child has understood the concept of privacy&etiquettes,it isn’t surprising that he also knows the emotion of embarrassment.Your toddler at this very moment is a smart bloke. He understands that the certain thing he has done will get him no brownie points,but will surely get you into a fit of lip biting rage,tears& disappointment. To combat that emotion,your toddler starts looking away,not looking at you in the eye or bows his head down. He understands that he is wrong.

He starts fidgeting or starts licking his lips or has a blank face around a few or a group of people:

This means that your LO isn’t as comfortable as you would like him to be with that particular group of people. He finds new faces overwhelming and starts diverting his attention at something else to stop himself from interacting with those people. Licking lips,brimming of eyes,fidgeting are all signs of uneasiness. Try keeping your child close to you and introducing these people one by one. Keep him in your arms & let him interact with others. When he’s ready,slowly let him go,while you’re within his sight. Wave at him and interact from a distance,telling him he’s safe with the others too.

He talks & shows imaginary things or people:

Ok,I need to tell you this. I hate this! Like super hate this. The other day,I was in my bed & clearly enjoying my magazine. The LO comes in and jumps into my bed and says he wants to sleep in my lap,I say ok. **poof** We have a power cut,I tell someone to switch on the UPS & in that minute my son says,”Emmy look Milly is up there.” Trust me,at that minute.. I wanted to leave the LO and run for my life. Scenes from Grudge,Exorcist etc came at me. All I could say was,” Arham,I dunno if you wanna pee in your diapers,but I think I’m gonna be peeing in my pants now”. When the UPS came on,so did my strength and I said,” Who is Milly?” To which he replied,” Milly the Monkey” (reference to his finger puppet) I sighed a breath of relief & laughed like a buffoon.

But whatever dude,I get freaked outta my wits. Day or night,I don’t find it funny or the least bit interesting 😖😭😭 Anyways,this isn’t about me.. So when your LO does this,it means that he has developed a flair for interaction & reenacting the things he sees,hears& feels during his awake time. His imagination is running wild,which will help him in thought processing & understanding consequences.

So much for being a parent. I don’t think that there is a better superhero than us. We’re all saving the day in one way or the other at home. **RESPECT**

The story of childhood,comprises of pages of incessant laughs,impermeable innocence,ginormous amounts of happiness and the hunger for learning.

Isn’t it quite a thing to see a little human just pop into our world and become THE world for us? How amazing it is to see the potential of that budding brain. It’s during these first few years,that the brain churns,burns & learns everything possible about the Big,big,big world around it. From learning how to roll on bed to running barefoot like a little monkey let out in the wild,this baby of yours is a wonder on his/her own. He/She Picks up the parental language just like that. In a span of 2 years,that baby understands 95% of your talks & language.

And while the brain is working overtime,you are in a rut.. What?? Yes,I meant what you read.

You spend insomniac nights trying to decipher what that little thing is all about. You are overcome with unnecessary fear of failure. You don’t want your child to lag behind. Though you preach that” My Child is Different & I Won’t Compare” motto,secretly you are comparing him with a fast & a late learner. Gaaaaaaahh!!! How do I know this?? I’ve been talking about myself you see..

During such times of “damsel in distress” situations, #Wonderboxx comes in as a ” Saviour”.

Heard of Wonderboxx?? If you haven’t then please give the link below a click.

Let me just enlighten you about this new and innovative venture. The Wonderboxx is a soigné & a dapper of an answer for all those collywobble attacks mommy gets,while thinking what she ought to do for the LO’s Learno-tainment. Yup.. I officially invented that word from 2 words ” Learning & Entertainment”. You see, if you can’t keep the LO entertained,you really can’t teach much. These little creatures are made for merrymaking,& if you can’t merry make,then you have a child with an attention span of 15 minutes.

Wonderboxx targets a sizeable spectrum of ages starting from 1-8. They segregate each age into 3 groups.

Toddlo : 1-3 years

Kiddo : 3-5 years

Ginomo: 5-8 years

Here are a few questions you might ask me.

1.What is Wonderboxx?

Wonderboxx is a beautifully apt and a revolutionary idea in the fashioning& sculpting of your child. It’s a hands on kit that is filled with age specific products,which are necessary for exciting your LO’s impulses. Because let’s face it,hands on learning is sooooo much more fun.But let me clear one thing,that all of these products that come in a box are brainchilds of an expert panel.This will target your child,where he needs most focus on.They design a box each month with a certain theme. They customize each kit with motor sensory stimulation,logic and reasoning projects. This is child quest in a box. Yep!! A little box of quests and escapades.

2. How much is it & what are the benefits?

It’s priced at Rs. 1499/- per box,but they have certain discounts,if you would subscribe to them for 3,6,12 months at once. So,a smarter idea would be to subscribe for a few months and save up the moolah,if you’re looking for a long term harmony with Wonderboxx.

Give it a trial maybe once and see how well it works for you. Please do rest assured that your box is a product of international calibre.

3. What kind of products come in the Wonderboxx?

For a better understanding,I will link their YouTube channel over here.

The products are of avant garde class,catered specially for your child. You don’t end up buying things which are either too decelerated or accelerated for your kid’s age. So, basically you are giving your child just what is befitting his age.

Let’s talk about this JULY edition:

This month was all about animals. It was the ” AMAZING ANIMALS” theme. It came packed in this adorable gift wrap & was heartbreaking to rip it. And all the while,my LO kept saying ” it’s for me, Emmy!?” He just knew it,that something this cute was for him.

The box has:

Animal flash cards

Animal action dice

Animal body part block

Animal masks

Finger puppets

Animal habitat activity

“What’s that munch?” Picture book,an exclusive Wonderboxx creation.

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Here’s the unboxing.. Tadaaa…A visual treat for you.

The packaging is a dream,packed in the most kid- friendly way possible. Here are the bunch of brain stimulating goodies that come in your box.

1) Animal Flashcards: These cards were so easy to teach,with bright colours and cute to heart drawings of animals,this made my son a happy little boy. He kept on trying to find the “Emmy & Baby” pair. With a laminated surface,these cards are great even for messy hands.

Here he is in a deeply pensive mood,trying to find pairs ❤️❤️2) Animal Action Dices: My baby is a little too small to understand the game,but nonetheless,he loves the drawings. You are supposed to connect the word with the animal. The word is on one dice & the animal on another.

3) Animal Body Parts Block: These foam cubes,found way into LO’s fun time. He enjoyed connecting the upper body& the lower body,also we had fun making weird ones.

And here Arham played to his heart’s content with the blocks& now insists on having it even when we’re off travelling.

4) Animal Masks: These were the most imaginative of them all. You get masks everywhere,nothing novelle about it. But these masks were just so much more fun,targeted at a toddler & tickled Arham pink. He loved “Leo the Lion” best ❤️ He kept roaring and prancing,kept insisting on being shown in the mirror.

5) Finger Puppets: An assortment of super cute paper puppets,got my little one talking and reenacting the animal behaviour. His favourite was ” Milly the monkey”.

6) Picture Book( What’s that munch?): Well,his favourite book was a bath book called ” Thumper makes a splash” and now it’s “What’s that munch?”. I have to coax him into leaving his picture book out of the bathroom,when he gets his bath done. The only con of this book is, I wish it was a “Bathbook”,that way he could take the book everywhere.

7) Animal Habitat Activity: Arham is still getting the gist of it,he tries to understand why a fish can’t have a home on the ground and so on.. But with the beautiful pictures,I’m sure he’s gonna be engrossed.

Now, if i may..I would like to list out the pros and cons according to me,so that you can understand how much I loved this box.

Pros:

The idea is one of a kind for a revolutionary understanding towards Child development.

A must have for kids who are getting homeschooled.

The products are on par with international standards of Education,as according to me.

The every month theme attracts not only your child,but also you so that you both can enjoy your box.

Extremely useful for lighting up bulbs in your child’s mind,it’s a different approach to things.

A very true format of Fun Learning.

Develops imagination,role playing,creativity & curiosity.

As a mother of a toddler,i can tell you that development,learning and processing surroundings begins much much before preschool. For such before preschool times, Wonderboxx is your answer.

Cons:

I wish the finger puppets weren’t made from paper,some cloth or any such sturdy material would make it last more longer,because Arham absolutely loves them and one is already torn.

It could have had little miniature animals to take the box to another level.

It could have had made the action dices also from foam,again for it to last longer.

So,that was quite long,but it was worth it. The July Edition was much fun,i have Arham calling himself “Leo the Lion” all the time. That’s how Emmy & Baby Arham are enjoying their box & we would reckon that you &Baby get one too..

Ok guys… I lost a whopping 5 kilos in the last 3 months,and I’m not interested in finding them again. This is one thing I’d absolutely love to abandon.. The pounds,ounces and kilos. They sound so dreaded,almost like a bag full of leaping froggies and toads. Not the ” Kermit” kinds,but the ugly puddle and pond toads kinds. On the contrary, they aren’t even half as scary as the extra pounds.What I dread are the airports… I’m always dreading them because,I might end up paying for extra baggage on myself. 😂😂😂

” Hey you!! Yeah you.. Stop rolling your eyes please. Thank you” 😳😳

Back to the point… I’ve discovered, the most foolproof plan to lose weight at the drop of the hat.. Well fedoras and hamburgs and berets also count. I noticed that I just needed a few things and a strict disciplinary measure,to keep myself motivated and in the loop. By the end of 3 months,I found myself to be 5 kilos lighter.

Here’s a list of all that you really ever need,in your weight loss journey:

A Yoga mat

A stability physio ball

A pair of plastic Dumbbells

A jump rope

Trust me when I say this.. this is all that I bought for myself to lose some weight and not peace of my mind.

I’m going to explain each use of the above equipments in detail. So please snuggle back and relax,while I give you the wisdom of the millennials.

The Yoga Mat : This was the first and the most foremost investment I did. Well actually,I bought all those things together at one go. But,my eyes fell on the yoga mat first. I know how important the yoga mat is, it’s your personal space while working out,giving you the cushiony feel while you exercise. I used to start with lying down on my back straight. Make sure that you meditate before the exercise. Just 5 minutes.. Think of how you would see yourself in a year from now& all such motivational thoughts. I,in particular would do it for 2 minutes and then find my son jumping on my stomach playing horsey… ” DUDE.. ARHAM, MOMMY IS IN A TRANSITIONAL PHASE.. She’s becoming beautiful” but the nagging would continue and I’d leave it at 2 minutes and progress to the next one. Who needs meditation anyways??

Stability Physio Ball: One of the most versatile equipments and a must have for home gyms. Even if you don’t wanna invest much,the stability ball doubles up as an all round core training aid. Targeted at all chest,abdominal and spine muscles,this is the most inexpensive way to get fit..

Start with standing straight.. And with a straight back seat yourself on the ball squatting,then…. **PLONK!! **

“ARHAAAAM, MOMMY IS EXERCISING.. THIS ISNT FOOTBALL” Sees her LO playing with it and after a lot of ” It’s mine” monologue, gives in and passes on the ball to the LO.. Stability balls are ok.. Dumbbells are the real deal.

The plastic dumbbell: Errr… I’m glad you’re still sticking around for more. This is the real place where you tone up and lose weight. Buy some suitable weight Dumbbells, they are gonna be your best friends in your journey.

Legs shoulder width apart, slightly curve your back and pick the Dumbbells off the floor,without bending your knees. Now,slowly lift them to your….. * OUCCCCHHH!! * Arham finds mommy funny and throws a dumbbell at her feet. The dumbbell stubs her toe. Prancing like the mad hatter, mommy cries..

Limping, mommy thinks about the benefits of the jump rope.

Lastly, the Jump rope: Don’t be fooled at the inexpensiveness of the jump rope. Let me tell you that the jump rope is an exquisite piece of an equipment. It buttonholes your weight and demands it to vacate your body. Targeted at a complete body workout,jump rope is the best thing ever. Period.

Hold the rope in your hands and start skipping at every round of rope. You need to do at least a 50.

This is how you do it,…..

After round 13… Arham tries joining in, and Mommy trips & is a mess.

LO holds the rope and starts a ” Tug-o-war” with mommy. 15 minutes later,after all the jumping and snatching and shouting… Arham gives the jumping rope. Mommy folds it neatly,packs into the box and stares…

Mommy feels letdown.. Maybe,home gymming isn’t my thing.

You see,it’s only after all this I realised that my weight was dropping,not because of the fancy-shmancy stuffs,but because of the maintenance that comes along with a baby in his ” TERRIBLE TWO’s”. The Running,the yelling,the playing,the picking up of toys and picking the LO up,the tantrums,the cooking,the random night bawlings,the invasive sleep periods,the showers,the bath soaks,the activity times and getting ready for activity times. Well,you see.. That’s how I lost weight,by being a “Mom” and also with some cups of green tea.

As for the purchases I made… The yoga mat is LO’s play mat,the stability ball is LO’s substitute for football,the Dumbbells have a better use now as paperweights and the jump rope??? Why it’s a makeshift fastener for the huge carton filled with books.

There isn’t any job as strenuous and as daunting as that of a mother. I,have domestic help and my mum to help me out. I only wonder in awe,how mummy raised us all on her own in a country that wasn’t hers.

She was ever so fearless and made sure we had the best.. Dear mummy.. I love you,I love you for all those nights I kept you awake and for all those days I kept you busy.

So,for all of you wanting to lose weight.. Get a baby.. That’s the secret,the foolproof plan😁😁

P.s: I do not advocate unhealthy lifestyles or discourage exercise,all this post says is the weight I lost wasn’t due to the traditional gymming but due to exercise in the form of chores.

Just when you thought that your baby has joined the family and well, life is all roses no thorns are you struck down by naked reality of the responsibility that a baby comes with. Really??? I mean weren’t all those 9 months of throwing up, exhaustion,headaches,out of proportion body enough of a sacrifice for the baby? Apparently NOOOO! That was just the yummy part.

Having a baby is the most beautiful experience,well,lets just not consider those banana spilts and angel cakes and hershey’s kisses and.. ahemm ahemmm… Oh dear me! excuse my “thought feeds” in middle of my posts. They just keep happening. So, lets get back to my point, all that im saying is “Congratulations!You have just won yourself an unlimited supply of baby drool, baby poop,spit ups and baby tantrums and we have a special surprise for you a year’s supply of sleep deprivation too.!!” At the risk of sounding extremely negative, newborns are beautiful but there are a kazillion things you have to remember about them when they are having their transitions. A few are:

Make sure you give your baby his milk at a 3-4 hour interval.

Make sure you burp him up after his feed preferably within 5-10 minutes. I’ve noticed that my baby would have a huge spit up after his feed if i wouldn’t let him burp at that 5-10 minute break.

Burping the baby has to be done with gentle strokes on his back when he’s lying on your shoulder.

Decide if you prefer a crib or co-sleeping.

If you opt for a crib, make sure that the baby upholstery is washed and cleaned atleast once a week,see that it has no sharp ends,invest in good HYPOALLERGENIC beddings.

Try to invest in organic hypoallergenic beddings,it’s more breathable and comfortable for your baby.

If you opt for co-sleeping,please make sure you are not overpowering the baby’s space. If you are a deep sleeper and a” stretch my guts off kinda mommy” then co-sleeping is out of bounds for you.

Invest in organic cotton clothes for the newbie.

Please please do not overdress your newborn. I understand the concern of new mothers who find their newbies so fragile that they instinctively have a maternal shield that in some weird way coaxes them into overdressing the baby.Please remember that your baby just needs 1 layer more than your dressing.If you are on 1 blanket,then the baby requires 2 not 5. Overdressing is a dangerous and can even cause death.

SIDS(Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is the risk that arises due to overdressing that causes suffocation or asphyxiation.

Do not buy your baby clothes for the upcoming winter or summer. Clothes remain the same but your baby outgrows them.You have absolutely no idea of how fast they grow.What seemed perfect last month can end up pinching his bottom this month.

If you plan to breastfeed,then do remember to buy nursing pads and a good quality breast pump. Breast pumps are of 2 types manual and electric. If you are a working woman an electric pump would go a long way for you. So choose carefully.

If you plan to bottle feed your baby please ask help from your health adviser or your paediatrician regarding the baby formula.Every baby is different something that suits your neighbour’s baby might not be right for yours.If your baby is a preemie you will be asked to use a formula that allows your baby to catch up with other babies.

Learn and master the art of bottle sterilization.Remember your bottles are good only upto 24 hours after which they lose their sterility.

Sterilize by boiling or steam sterilization. There are tons of great sterilizers out there that have different catchy uses,but it all comes down to one thing boiling or steam you need to use it within 24 hours.

Use BPA free bottles,toys and BPA free cleaning brushes.It’s Bisphenol-A,its a cause of worry because research shows that BPA may seep through food and beverages and cause a variety of problems for the newborn ranging from heart problems to brain developmental problems.

Do not use talcs on the baby’s skin for atleast a month.From my experience it really does create a havoc,its better to leave the baby in his natural, unaltered form for a month.Same applies for baby colognes.

Invest in good brands of baby soaps,body foams,bathrobes,baby mittens,nappy creams,bottom butters,body oils,body lotions and if your baby is blessed with good hair then a shampoo.Believe me that is all that they need in their first months.Not much of a list over there.

Make sure all the baby toiletries are “PARABENS FREE”.

A bathing seat which has anti-slip holds must be kept in mind.

Anti-slip bath mats for you so that you don’t happen to land yourself in trouble with the baby in your arms.

Invest in a good sunscreen for the baby. It’s an absolute must have.

Invest in the best diapers that you can afford in the baby’s first few months.You will thank me for it later. Make sure the diapers are made out of breathable fabric.Brands like pampers,mamy poko pants,huggies etc. are just a delicious dream for the baby.

If you are going to go eco-friendly and opt for fabric diapers then you really have nothing much to worry about except the laundry ofcourse. Let me make that immediate laundry.

No food or water for the baby for his first 6 months,irrespective of what your grandmother says. Proven by the AAP (American Academy of Paediatrics). Here is an excerpt from “www.about.com” The American Academy of Pediatrics actually states that “until your baby starts eating solid foods, he’ll get all the water he needs from breastmilk or formula.”

Lastly,remember that no baby grows more happily than the one whose caretaker is happy.So,remember to do yourself a favour and be happy throughout.Shower your baby with hugs and kisses.There’s hardly anyone more receptive than them to love.

Now with all that little bit of information you are ready to go ahead and take your first baby steps in caring for your baby.Enjoy your experience with your little one.Your baby may demand for something more or maybe not as much as you thought so.The angel that you possess is just yours,just that exclusive piece that nobody else has,so its only fair that it comes with a high price tag and maintainence. Keep enjoying your Mommyhood.. cheers!!

Hello to all mommies and mommies and mommies and…oh! i see that rare species in the count of extinction here…You know what right?…The dads! Looking at the ample amount of mommies on board i had no other choice but to address the mommies thrice.Hope the mommies and the dads are doing well here.

This post is addressed to all those silly questions that pop up in your head regarding the cutie pies that we possess. Imagine the truckloads of responsibility that a dad possess’s,lets multiply that into a 100.Well,what do we have here….

Dear dad’s work schedules+work tension+looking after family tension* 100 = Mommy’s daily dose of responsibility(with no holidays-sick leaves-or watching favorite episode of desperate housewives).OH!!!that’s long out of the program schedule.SEE, Mommies no longer know what’s going on tv soap operas.

With such a huge criteria to tackle on a everyday basis and “MOMMMMMMMY!! SHE TOOK MY CAR” cries,deafening you up everyday,it’s only normal that a mommy has quite alot of silly questions for herself.Im pretty sure these questions come barging in your head without an invitation,and leave you guilty for thinking about it.Trust me, you are perfectly normal.There’s nothing wrong with you or your love for your family,but here are a few answers.

Just yesterday, I went through a lot of guilt for overlooking my son’s inquisitiveness… **paawwhh** after a big bawling episode, I decided to repost this article as a reminder for me 😁❤️

1)AM I A GOOD PARENT?

Well,absolutely yes.If you found yourself asking this question,then it does mean that you care.It means that you want to excel in your parenting skills,It means that YOU my dear are trying hard enough to be a good parent.

2) AM I A FAILURE?

Just because your child pulled the iron almost on his hand,doesn’t qualify you in the “WORST PARENT”list. Chill,you are as much as a learner as your child.Your child has been let loose in this amazingly intriguing environment,what do you expect?Would he/she not experiment?Mistakes are such an integral part of your child’s development both mentally and physically.Surprisingly the same applies to you.

3)I’M GOING BACK TO WORK.AM I COMPROMISING WITH MY CHILD’S WELL BEING?

Going back to work,well this question really needs a little depth of understanding.As a mum,without a doubt your first priority is your child…hold on!! let me finish..it’s not over yet! But so is your happiness,your personal space and dreams.It is truely not selfish to think about you.Infact it’s really healthy.If you have sorted out all the intricacies like say” who will be looking after your child in your absence?” “what time will you be getting back home?””Can you handle work and home stress together?””How necessary is it for you to work?”YOU know better,whether you are working for a better financial position or for your dreams and passion,YOU have all the rights to go ahead and live it up.Like i always say a happy mom is a better mom.

4)I DON’T LOOK LIKE MY OLD SELF.IM FAT AND UGLY.HELP?😢😒

Except for a few moms who i sternly believe have the access to the eternal fountain of youth,it’s highly unlikely that you are going to fit in your pre university jeans again.Either you sweat it out day and night and night and day to fit in those jeans,or even better accept the fact that you are beautiful,you are a mum,you are that woman who had the privilege to be able to birth a beautiful baby,you have changed but for the best. I don’t mean to advocate unhealthy lifestyles,nor do recommend sedentary ideologies.All im trying to say is life is soooooo much more than the stress of not accepting yourself the way you are.Baby fat melts by its own schedule,rather than cribbing over the unlikely fact,accept yourself,experiment with new styles of dressing.Wear flowy dresses,dress according to your shape and stay away from ill fitting clothes no matter how trendy they are.My two cents on that.

5)I FEEL I DON’T UNDERSTAND MY CHILD WELL ENOUGH?

Guess,it’s that sub conscious mind doing the tricks.We thought the same. Din’t we? We thought that our parents never understood us,but in reality they knew us in and out.They just couldn’t figure out if what they thought was the THING confusing us. The absolute solution to this is,let your child communicate either by his “gaaa gaaa eeh’s “or by”Mum it’s my friend,he’s fared better than me.”It doesn’t matter if its a newborn or a teenager,communication breaks those little invisible barriers that start creating once you start distancing yourself.You as a parent have all the answers,just get your child to ask those crucial questions.

No, you’re not.People have by far exaggerated motherhood to the extremes.Telling you all stories of how lovely it feels to be a mother,how they have never been upset since the baby,how everything in their lives is back to normal,and sometimes…how eager they are to have another one. Gear up love..I can guarantee you that all that is nothing but their wishful thinking of not accepting reality,or ahem ahem..your sweet acquaintance is lying straight to your sweet gullible and vulnerable face.ALAS!! You do make it that evident.Don’t you? Lets think of motherhood like this..”You have your dream job…sounds good??? yes?? good..listen..You have your dream job,you having been waiting for this or have unexpectedly landed yourself in it.OK??well, Now you start working on it..preparing projects,hitting deadlines etc.. Tiring you eh??No matter how irritated you are with the job miniscularities,it still is something that you wanted.It’s not easy but hey..it’s something you can flaunt of.. Yeah?? Motherhood is just this..You have landed yourself in it,it’s beautiful,not easy,everyday you are faced with new tasks,deadlines etc.Things will change,your life is not going to be the same.Changes are for the good.A life without change is lets face it..DRY!! and BORING!! You will never be faced with a bigger challenge,and you better conquer it.

7)AM I THE REINCARNATION OF MY MOTHER?

You may find yourself doing and getting irritated at the exact same things that your mum used to at.Don’t be surprised.God has filled mothers with a completely unique system.All of us respond to it the same way.Remember your mum used to say”That dress looks horrible!You need to wear this!”and she used to pick up a dress that you despised and labelled old fashioned or outdated?.Do you find yourself doing the same? Im sure you would do so.There’s no harm being the reincarnation of the lady who bought up such a fine lady as yourself.The way you realise that now,so will your kids.Albeit if there are some scary and abusive bits of your childhood that you find yourself inflicting on your kids,then you really must seek professional help.You should understand the degree of pain and mental imbalance that this troubled childhood has caused and prevent yourself from repeating the same mistake.Such issues need to be addressed at the earliest.

7)MY PRIVACY IS LOST.

Hmmmm…you did know this would happen..You did read all the terms and conditions on the dream job contract Edit😞 Privacy is such a luxury that you can’t even dream of owning for quite sometime,but surely you can rent it out for time being.Remember how fond your mother is of her grandchildren?or how fond your mother in law is of them?.Go ahead grab that opportunity.Go rent some private time,Just you and your love. Leave the kids in good care and rekindle that love oncce again.A day or two of a private vacay with your hubby can do wonders for everyone.

8)I DON’T SPEND TIME ON ME!

Well,shame on you. You should absolutely be not neglecting yourself.Head to the nearest spa and pamper yourself to a day of decadence and sheer indulgence.Feel like a queen,because you no longer are a princess as you have your own lil ones.. remember.??? Or catch up with the gossip that you have been missing up with your girlfriends.Just about anything that makes you happy as an individual.The more you neglect yourself,the more irritated and stressed you are going to feel.My mantra as always” A HAPPY MOM IS A BETTER MOM!”

9)EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION ON HOW I SHOULD RAISE MY KIDS. IM CONFUSED!

Mommy,though you are a novice compared to a mum who has 30-50 years of experience raising children,You know better.Motherhood is a learning process,and very soon you will find that not everytime does”one size fit all”.People do pass on their opinions,like how they would condemn a mother who choses to not breastfeed or how a working mom is stereotyped for not being there for her children.Opinions do matter,but make sure that they do not affect your own.Any opinion passed on to you must go through your filtering process.Make sure it suits you and your lifestyle.Make sure it is for the kids best interest and make sure You are happy fulfilling it.Let not people make you feel guilty for things that always have an alternative.It’s another thing if you would like to trade your colicky baby for that sweet non colicky baby..you then do need to listen to your mother who thinks you are crazy and tells you to go to bed.I guess your mommy is right!You do need rest.😓

10)AM I HAPPY?

Go to where your child is at this very moment.Well… Do you have your answer? No matter how much your child drives you up the wall,causes sleep deprivation,makes you look fat,whines,cries,makes you lose your privacy,and what not. YOU LOVE YOUR CHILD. He/she is that inseparable part of you that you can not live without. Yes, you are happy. Your life has a bigger meaning to it,it feels complete now. You have someone you can exclusively claim as your flesh and blood..literally huh.. You must be crazy to not be happy for all of this.Do i see a smile on your face?? aaahhh… i do… you proud mommy.. and here you were asking all these questions,when the ulterior motive of your life has already been satiated.YOU ARE A HAPPY AND A PROUD MOMMY..

I had a blast writing this post,hope you did too reading it.. signing off for now,my bundle of joy calls for his late night snack..”Gosh!! does he really ever intend to give me a good 12 hours of sleep ever?” **crib crib** ( goes with a cribby face and lights up seeing son smiling at mommy from his wooden crib,1001 nights of mommy’s sleep shall be sacrificed for this smile.)

P.S. :And as usual,mommy is happy,kisses baby goodnight after feed and falls asleep to only dream bout baby calling for her even in her dreams… mommy smiling in sleep.